Document Detail


Number, distribution and concentration of Australian veterinarians in 2006, compared with 1981, 1991 and 2001.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18616482     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the number, concentration and distribution of veterinarians working in Australia in 2006, and compare with data from 1981, 1991 and 2001. Procedure Data on each veterinarian who was registered, resident and apparently working in each Australian state and territory were obtained from relevant veterinary board lists, entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed with SAS System for Windows 8. Other data were obtained from the Official Australian Postcode Map, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 7510 veterinarians, of whom 46% were female, were working in Australia in 2006. The rate of increase (230/year) between 2001 and 2006 was greater than for the previous 20 years. The number per million people (360) was 73% higher than in 1981, and more than 30% higher than in the USA and UK. With the establishment of three new veterinary schools the number of graduates, and the total number of veterinarians, will increase further. By 2011 the number of veterinarians is likely to be three-fold greater, and the number per million people two-fold greater than in 1981. The number of veterinarians per million dogs and cats will increase at a greater rate if dog and cat numbers continue to fall. As more than 75% of Australian veterinary work involves dogs and cats this has serious implications for the profession. CONCLUSIONS: Progressively increasing numbers of veterinarians will compete for a constant or diminishing resource--the dogs and cats of Australia. It seems likely that overt signs of oversupply will appear before sufficient numbers of veterinarians enter alternative forms of employment.
Authors:
T J Heath
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Australian veterinary journal     Volume:  86     ISSN:  0005-0423     ISO Abbreviation:  Aust. Vet. J.     Publication Date:  2008 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-07-11     Completed Date:  2008-10-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370616     Medline TA:  Aust Vet J     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  283-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
trevorheath@aapt.net.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Australia / epidemiology
Career Choice
Demography
Employment
Female
Humans
Male
Veterinarians / statistics & numerical data*
Veterinary Medicine / manpower*,  trends*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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